💡 Scholarships for Entrepreneurs: Fueling Your Business & Education

Starting your own venture—or planning to—is exciting, but college costs can slow you down. The good news: there are scholarships targeted at entrepreneurial-minded students. These scholarships can help with tuition, research, or business startup costs while you pursue your idea.

In this post, we’ll cover:

• Why entrepreneurship scholarships exist

• Types of scholarships you should look for

• Detailed examples of scholarships (U.S. and global)

• Tips to boost your chances

• Additional resources (including Higher‑Edu Pro tools)

Why Are There Scholarships for Entrepreneurs?

Entrepreneurship is not just a major—it’s a mindset. Funders often want to support future job creators, innovators, and community leaders. Scholarships for entrepreneurs tend to:

• Reward initiative, leadership, originality, and risk-taking

• Support students who are already running or planning a business

• Help cover costs of education and business-related expenses

• Encourage underrepresented founders (e.g. women, racial minorities)

Because these scholarships combine academic + entrepreneurial criteria, they tend to be more niche and less competitive than broad “business major” scholarships. That’s why it pays to dig in.

Types / Categories of Entrepreneur Scholarships

🎯 Notable Scholarships for Entrepreneurs

Below are some scholarships currently available (or worth investigating). Always check deadlines, eligibility, and official websites.

U.S.-Based Entrepreneur / Business-Focused Scholarships

1. LiveYourDash Entrepreneurs Scholarship

   • Award: $500 🔗Bold

   • Applicants: Undergraduate students majoring in entrepreneurship

   • What they ask: A 400–600 word essay about what excites you about being an entrepreneur and your inspiration

   • Deadline: November 23, 2025 (for current cycle) 🔗Bold

2. NASE Future Entrepreneur Scholarship

   • Up to $24,000 total (structured over several years) 🔗College Scholarships

   • Open to high school seniors and undergraduates whose parents are NASE members

   • Evaluated by financial need, academics, leadership, etc.

3. NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards

   • Several awards: $10,000 national + regional awards 🔗College Scholarships

   • Applicants include students attending college or trade schools with entrepreneurial goals

4. McKelvey Foundation Scholarships

   • For entrepreneurial students who have already started a business 🔗College Scholarships

   • Up to $10,000 annually for multiple years

5. CHESTER Entrepreneur Scholarship

   • Award: $2,500, 4 winners per year 🔗StudentScholarships

   • Open to undergraduate or incoming freshmen

   • Essay topic: leverage of the internet in business & handling competition (500–1,000 words) 🔗StudentScholarships

6. Elevate Black Entrepreneurs Scholarship

   • Award: $500 🔗Calvin Rosser+1

   • For Black undergrad or graduate students building or planning a business

   • Deadline: March 31, 2025 (for last cycle) 🔗Financial Aid Finder

7. Scholarships from Scholarships.com (Entrepreneurship major listings)

   • Examples: PG&E NuEnergy Scholarship, WiT Foundation Scholarship, Dream.Org Tech Scholarship, etc. 🔗Scholarships

   • Award amounts and deadlines vary — check the directory for updates

8. Keennan Family Minority Entrepreneurial Scholarship (LMU, via business admin / entrepreneurship track)

   • Mentioned in context of business administration scholarships for minority entrepreneurs 🔗College Scholarships

International / Global / Business School Scholarships

• Schulich Leader Scholarships (Canada / Israel)

  • For students entering STEM/entrepreneurship-related tracks Wikipedia

  • One scholarship goes to a student intending to pursue entrepreneurship as part of their academic plan

• Business & Entrepreneurship Scholarships Around the World (via TopUniversities / QS)

  • Examples: Jane M. Klausman Women in Business, ESSEC BBA scholarships, etc. QS China

• Rapid Formations Entrepreneur Scholarship Programme

  • For students in U.S. or U.K. with entrepreneurial potential QS China

How to Maximize Your Chances — Pro Tips 🔍

1. Start early & calendar deadlines
   Many scholarships have fixed yearly dates. Missing one means waiting a full year.

2. Tailor essays to the scholarship theme
   If a scholarship is entrepreneur-themed, highlight your business idea, traction, or how you’d use funds to grow it.

3. Leverage smaller awards
   Don’t ignore $500–$2,500 scholarships. Fewer applicants = higher odds.

4. Show evidence, not just ambition
   If you already have some business activity (sales, prototype, social media, customers), include that.

5. Get strong recommendations
   Preferably someone who can speak to your entrepreneurial potential (mentor, employer, teacher).

6. Pool essays and adapt
   Write a strong base essay about your entrepreneurial journey, then tweak it for each scholarship’s prompt.

7. Check your school’s internal and departmental scholarships
   Many universities (especially business schools) have entrepreneurship-specific awards.

8. Use scholarship search tools

   • Higher‑Edu Pro (our platform) can help you track entrepreneurial-leaning scholarships

   • Scholly (now owned by Sallie Mae) as a matching app for scholarships Wikipedia

   • Use the directories you already gave: Scholarships.com, Bold.org, etc.

9. Apply annually / as you progress
   More experience in your venture increases your credibility over time.

How This Ties into Higher‑Edu Pro

• Use our listed Scholarship Search Engines to filter for entrepreneur/business scholarships

• Set alerts & notifications for deadlines in your area of focus

• Use our essay guidance module to polish business‑focused essays

• Explore our career simulator to project how entrepreneurial careers align with college majors

Final Thoughts

If you’re chasing a business idea while attending school, scholarships for entrepreneurs can help you cover tuition and accelerate your venture. The key is to dig into niche opportunities, present real proof of your initiative, and apply widely—especially for those smaller, less-crowded awards.